Herniated Disc
On a bad day, you can’t get out of bed, let alone go to work. The challenge is to convince the Social Security Administration that your disk injury is chronic and severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. A herniated disk (or bulging or ruptured disk) is recognized by Social Security as a disabling condition. However, claimants must meet specific medical criteria.
Our attorney is knowledgeable about what it takes to win benefits for a disk herniation:
- A doctor’s diagnosis, confirmed through MRI, CT scan, X-ray, etc.
- Documented symptoms such as spinal cord pain, sciatic pain, numbness or tingling, weakness in the limbs, lost range of motion or diminished reflexes
- Evidence of limitations and complications in day-to-day life such as shooting pains, sleeplessness, difficulty walking, inability to bend over, or needing frequent naps
The majority of initial claims for back injury claims are denied. Your best chance of getting approved is at a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. This is where our legal team shines. We work with clients to help them document the disabling symptoms of this chronic impairment. For example, many people with disk injuries also suffer from depression, but the medical records must reflect treatment with a therapist or psychiatrist if depression symptoms are to be given weight in the decision.
Cases are also won or lost on the claimant’s testimony; skeptical judges will look for any inconsistencies between the testimony, the application forms and the medical evidence. We prepare clients for the hearing by anticipating specific issues the judge or expert witnesses will raise.
Back injuries are the largest categories of claims for Social Security Disability and among the most frequently denied.
At Disability and Injury Law Offices of David R. Machek, we know how to document and present claims for herniated disk and related conditions. We have a high success rate on behalf of clients in the Philadelphia area and surrounding counties of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We understand how disabling and serious a herniated/ruptured disk can be, especially if you will need surgery at some point. We urge you to contact us before submitting a claim, or whenever you receive a denial decision.
Do not believe anyone who tells you that the Social Security Disability process is simple. To schedule an initial consultation and case evaluation with a trusted SSDI and SSI lawyer serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding region, please contact us online or call at Jenkintown 215-385-5353 or Philadelphia 215-323-5320 to arrange a free initial consultation with our lawyer about SSD/SSI eligibility.